Suspected mutilation cases hit 14 in past year

FOURTEEN cases where girls have been suspected of being at risk of female genital mutilation (FGM) have been referred to Police Scotland since the force was set up in April 2013.

Those cases involved 16 girls but Detective Superintendent William Guild told MSPs that no incidents of FGM actually being performed were identified.

He revealed the figures as MSPs on Holyrood’s equal opportunities committee considered the problem, with a police submission stating that the ‘prevalence of FGM in Scotland is unknown’.

It added: ‘A national FGM register has been established, indicating that since April 1, 2013, there have been 14 referrals submitted to Police Scotland relating to 16 children at risk of FGM.

‘These referrals have been investigated and whilst no criminality was identified, interventions have been made to reduce the risk to the children.’

When asked if any child had been harmed, the officer said: ‘No. Most of the referrals that have been made are about a concern or a risk of FGM.’

There have been no prosecutions for FGM in Scotland since legislation to deal with the problem was introduced in 1985.

Mr Guild told the committee: ‘Our sense is there is a lack of referrals coming in about FGM.’

He added that ‘historically there are a number of barriers’ to the practice being reported to police.